Making change at the Press

Norma Olson Smith and Kathy Magnuson

Thank you, readers of the Minnesota Women’s Press!

In February 2017, we announced our intention of finding the next leadership for taking the Minnesota Women’s Press’s mission and legacy into the future. You responded with encouragement and shared connections in your networks. You strongly conveyed that you want this feminist publication to continue sharing women’s stories that create community and encourage change.

We enjoyed having coffee, phone meetings and dining room tableconversations with many who wanted to learn more about leadership possibilities for themselves. The process has been energizing and fruitful.

As a result, in January 2018, you can expect to see the publication carry on with a new leadership group led by Mikki Morrissette, who has worked with the Women’s Press and has extensive journalism experience.

The Minnesota Women’s Press started at a time when there were many feminist publications around the country. Flash forward 33 years, we’re now the oldest continuously-published feminist monthly print magazine in the United States.

While many other high quality publications have come and gone locally and nationally, we have survived recessions, the digital revolution and changing political administrations. We believe we’re still here because people in Minnesota are hungry for stories by, for and about women.

We’re grateful for not only our loyal readers but also our steadfast advertisers. Their investment with the Women’s Press is the reason we’ve been able to share stories of women’s strength, courage and action. Our advertisers’ make it possible to distribute this free publication at over 500 sites throughout the metro area each month. By doing business with MWP advertisers you support the Women’s Press, too. Let them know you appreciate their advertising in the Women’s Press – tell them.

We were also heartened by your response to our call-out for “rockstar activists” in late summer. We were feeling disillusioned by our current presidential administration and the setbacks faced in so many areas. We asked you to tell us about women who were carrying on, doing good work, making a difference. Your response was amazing – both in numbers of women and organizations recommended and in the scope of their activism. Thank you! In this November issue we share stories of some of these “rockstar activists.”

Storytelling has always been at the heart of the Women’s Press’ style of journalism. We’re pleased that the storytelling will continue for a long time. You can read more about the new leadership group here: mikkimorrissette.com/minnesota-womens-press and you can see their crowdfunding here: bit.ly/MWP2018. Their development fund continues through Nov. 8.

Watch for our annual Changemakers issue in December and the Women’s Press with new leadership in January 2018. We are all stronger together, when we raise each other up and make change happen.